Sum-SHA-Thut—an installation by Canadian solar energy company Home Energy Solutions (HES)—was named Solar Project of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) conference. The winning project, built for Vancouver Island’s T’Sou-ke Nation, is British Columbia’s largest solar power installment to date, claims HES, and the recipient of several other awards.

“The success of this project and the leadership demonstrated by the
T’Sou-ke Nation and Chief Gordon Planes show great promise for solar
electric generation in Canada,” said Dave Egles, founder and president
of HES. Since the July 2009 installation of Sum-SHA-Thut (the Sencoten
term for “sunshine”), energy consumption has dropped 30%, making
T’Sou-ke Nation, claims HES, the most solar-intensive nation per capita
on the planet.

“The T’Sou-ke Solar Community project is a great example of how BC is a
leader in the alternative energy sector, and how solar can play a
significant role in our future energy supply,” said Blair Lekstrom,
B.C.’s energy, mines and petroleum resources minister.

“This award could not come at a better time,” said Egles. “It shows
that people are starting to recognize solar electricity as a real
solution for climate change…”

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In photo: HES vice-president Ed Knaggs and T’Sou-ke Chief Gordon Planes standing in front of B.C.’s largest solar system.